According to Papo, 228 operations were cancelled this year because of a shortage of anaesthetists and other medical staff, over-booked lists due to high patient load, and lack of material resources, including specialised equipment and intensive care beds for post-operative patients.

After an outcry by doctors earlier this year the staffing situation has improved at the hospital, but special measures must to taken to reduce these huge surgery backlogs.

I am particularly concerned that the specialised equipment shortage that delays heart surgery be fixed as soon as possible.